Play device



` mim Aug.s,1939. Bmw 2,168,392

PLAY DEVICE Filed Aug. 23, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2v Patented Aug. 8, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE PLAY DEVICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to play devices. An object has been to provide a combination play device which is capable of a number of interesting, healthful uses by childern.

5 More specically, an object has been to provide a play device with which children can play a variety of interesting games. According to my invention, I provide a combination in which there is a sand box which, however, may be covered up with a platform. I have also provided the combination of a coasting device. Children with vehicles of various kinds may run up one inclined side of this coasting device and across the sand box cover platform and down the other inclined platform to coast or to obtain an impetus, as will be readily understood. In addition, I have provided a combination in which a swing may be supported adjustably, quickly and simply for children of various heights.

In addition, I have provided another element of the combination, a game board, which may be used separately or in combination with the other elements. This game board has a plurality of apertures with scoring indicia for the various apertures, and has a ball attached. The game board may be held in the left hand or otherwise suitably supported and the ball may be thrown at one of the apertures. It will be readily understood that if the ball is thrown in the large lower aperture, no score will be made, whereas if the ball is thrown in one of the upper corner apertures, a score of l will be made, etc.

In addition, the game board may be used in combination with the other elements as, for eX- ample, I have provided a ball guide adapted to be pivotally supported on the seat of the swing at one end and inclined downwardly at the other end toward the game board. When the ball is placed on the ball gui-de, it will roll down the .U ball guide toward the game board and up the face of the game board, if the ball guide has been properly directed. For rolling the ball into various apertures, there are various scores as before indicated.

I have also provided means for adjustably and pivotally or rotatably supporting the ball guide on the swing seat in a vertical axis to swing in an inclined or horizontal plane whereby any child may easily operate the ball guide and draw or 50 move it back and forth and pivot it to properly direct the guide and ball as a test of skill without its becoming disengaged from the seat of the swing.

Also, I have provided means for elevating the swing out of the way so that the same will not interfere with the operation of the ball guide and game board.

Still another object has been to provide such a combination in such a form as can be made and sold at an extremely low cost.

Other objects and advantages will appear and be brought out more fully in the following specification and drawings, wherein;

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an element of the `play combination of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a front sectional elevation taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. In Figs. 2 and 3 the swing has been elevated out of the way and the device is in such a condition that the sand box may be utilized;

Fig. 4 is a perspectiveview of the game board of the combination;

Fig. 5l is a perspective View of the entire combination of the play device;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the pivoted guide and the swing seat;

Fig. '7 is a sectional view on the line 7 1 of Fig. 6, showing the guide and the seat of the swing; and

Fig. 8 is a detail section view showing the element of the ball and socket for attaching the ball cord to the game board, taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 5.

Referring more particularly Vto the drawings and to the form shown therein which has been selected for the purpose of illustrating the principle of my invention, there is shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3 a combination coasting device, sand box, swing and ball guide support. The combination Ill has a bottom section II attached to two vertical parallel sides I2 and connected along the bottom edges of two spaced parallel transverse walls I3 forming a sand box I intermediate the ends of the sides I2. The sides I2 are angled or oppositely beveled or inclined at their ends as atA I5 and are Vadapted to support oppositely inclined runways It. A removable platform support II is adaptedto be placed on the sides I2 and between the inner edges of the runways I6 upon the sand box so as to cover the same and provide a continuous riding surface between the inclined runways I6 so that, for example, a tricycle may be ridden up one runway I6 and over the platform II and down the other runway I6 as a coasting device or to give impetus to the movement thereof.

Mounted on the sides I2 are a pair of vertical posts I8 supporting a crossbar or swing support I9 which is provided with vertical rope apertures 20 and rope grooves 2| for the rope of the swing. The vertical posts are also provided with a plurality of hooks 22 and are adapted to secure the ends of suspension ropes 23. The ropes 23 support a seat 24 provided with apertures 25 and the seat has a metal inset 26 having a semispherical socket 21 for a purpose which will be explained hereinafter.

A 'ball guide 28 has a base 29 and sides 30 forming a groove 3|. Located in the other side or bottom of the guide 28 is a plate 32 having an integral spherical knob 33 which is adapted to t in the socket 2`| of the swing seat 24.

There is also provided a game board 34 having an inclined apertured rolling plane 35 with a rear elevating element 36. The game board 34 has a large aperture 37 and a plurality of smaller apertures 38. It also has a metallic ball socket 39 adapted to iit a spherical knob 4U having an eyelet bolt 4| secured to a cord 42, the other end of which is secured to an eyelet 43 connected to a rubber ball 44 in an obvious manner.

The game board has suitable indicia, as zero for the large aperture and five for the lower side apertures, ten for the upper side apertures, and twenty for the center upper apertures.

With respect to the use of the device, it will be understood that the swing may be elevated out of the Way by providing the upper ends of the ropes 23 with loops whereby the rope may be pulled through the apertures 20 of the rope support I9 around through the rope grooves 2| when the loops may be placed on appropriate hooks to elevate the swing seat as desired. In this oondition, when the swing has been elevated out of the way, the sand box may be used by removing the platform or, the platform may be placed on the sand box and the children may ride velocipedes or the like up one inclined runway, over the platform and down the other inclined runway i5 so as to provide the desired impetus.

In addition to providing a swing which may be easily adjusted to suit children of various heights, the swing may be used in combination with the game board of the invention as clearly shown in Fig. 5. The ball guide 28 may be placed in position on the swing seat in the manner shown in Fig. 5 with the knob of the ball guide seated in the spherical socket of the seat. In this way, a child may either draw the ball guide toward him or push it away from him in a simple manner, may adjust the swing bar or seat vertically to vary the inclination of the ball guide or may accurately pivot the ball guide on the swing seat without danger of the ball guide slipping on the seat. He can turn the ball guide in the proper direction and then roll a ball 45 on the top edges of the ball guide as shown in Fig. 7 to aim the ball into one of the apertures of the game board.

It will also be seen that the game board may be used independently by holding the ball 44 in the lingers of the right hand and the board in the left hand by means of the support 36 between the linger and thumb. In this position the ball may be thrown with the right hand against the apertures of the board. It will be understood that different values are awarded for the apertures through which the ball is thrown.

It will also be understood that instead of rolling the ball 45 on the top edges of the ball guide as shown in Fig. '7, a smaller ball or marble may be used which will roll in the channel 3| itself. It will also be understood that the game board is adapted to be used in combination with the ball guide and rested on the oor a proper distance from the end of the ball guide so that a ball may roll up the inclined face of the board.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, these are capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desireto avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In aplay device, uprights having a cross member, a bar supported for vertical adjustment from said cross member and a ball guide pivotally mounted on said bar for vertical adjustment therewith and for a lateral pivoting action on its pivot to control the guiding of a ball toward a game board.

2. In a play device, a base, uprights attached to said base, and an adjustable rope supported bar carried by said uprights having a central socket and a channel shaped ball guide having a bottom spherical knob fitting the socket for lateral and horizontal pivoting movement to adjust the position of the ball guide.

3. In a play device, a ball guide down which a ball is adapted to roll onto a game board, and means for supporting said ball guide, for vertical adjustment to vary the inclination thereof, for movement back and forth toward and away from a game board or pivoting to either side, said means including a flexibly supported bar having a socket and a knob on said ball guide adapted to seat in the socket on said bar.

4. In a play device, uprights having a top cross member, flexible supports suspended from the cross member, a bar adapted for vertical angular movement transversely thereof, for vertical adjustment and horizontal swinging movement in an arc, and a ball guide pivotally and detachably mounted on said bar for adjustment therewith and for lateral pivoting movement near one end whereby the opposite end may be directed for guiding a ball toward a game board.

CHARLES BIRCH. 

